Our children are our most precious resources. We love them. We protect them. We provide for them. But do we talk to them? In our rushed world, one thing that often gets pushed to the side in the rush is quiet time with our kids. The next time you have a few minutes while you are waiting with your child (like at the dentist’s office), take advantage of those precious moments. Talk to your child!

Parents, what is your child learning from you? Children benefit greatly from a little one-on-one attention from mom and dad. Children who get attention from their parents are more confident. While they do better in school, they also do better at home. In other words when children feel they don’t have to act out for some undivided attention, they are less likely to do so.

You may be thinking, “Of course I talk to my kids. I talk to them every morning when I am telling them to get ready for school. I talk to them while I am helping with homework. I talk to them as I remind them about chores, schedules and bedtimes.” You’re right – you do talk to your kids a lot.

Let’s look at it from a different angle: Do you have good luck getting your kids to talk to you? And are you listening when they talk? Start by going beyond the typical questions. Think outside the box to get conversations started with questions like these from All Pro Dad:

What is the hardest thing about being _____ years old?

Describe your perfect day.

If you were the parent, what lesson would you like to help me learn?

Then make sure you are actively listening to their answers:

Make eye contact.

Don’t interrupt.

Answer their questions thoughtfully.

Let them know you heard them by repeating what they said.

Make the effort to spend some time talking with your child each day. Talk about school. Talk about weekend plans. Have a “question of the day” that everyone can answer at the dinner table. You might be surprised at the benefits to your child and to you!